The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-03-08
TERMS or sonscnIrrIoN.
TUEspAY, MARCH 5, I8s7.
CITY GOVERNMENT.

There is very little probability Of the
government Of Honolulu, within any
measurable period in the future, get
ting out of the hands that control
national affairs. Still it may be very
useful to discuss civic government in
anticipation of contingencies that may
arrive unawares Various theories have
been put forward in different channels
of public opinion, as to the mode Of
civic government which would be
adaptable to Honolulu in the event Of
change being made. Among these
government by boards has had good
deal of advocacy. This system, how
ever, does not appear to have struck
all who have had observation Of its
practical working elsewhere as being
altogether up to the beautiful simplicity
and effectiveness that it presented in
theory. Governor Hill Of New York,
in a recent message to the Legislature
Of that State, discussed the misrule that
has for so long disgraced the Amer
lean commercial metropolis. He
thought that one cause Of the evils Of
that sort has been that when anything
wrong had been discovered, civic re-
formers resorted to patching up the
city charter. "The result, as might
naturally be expected" says an ex-
change, sis an organic tumble, which
produces just the condition Of affairs
that is most suited to the light
fingered politicians who are found in
such numbers there" The Governor
recommends new and revised charter,
to be framed by men Of experience in
the government of the city, together
with a few leading citizens of each
party and intelligent representatives Of
all classes and interests. What Gov,
ernor Hill thinks Of boards we gather
from the following remarks in the San
Francisco "Bulletin."--
Among the provisions which Gov.
ernor Hill thinks ought to be inserted,
in any charter that should be drafted
for the great city are found many
which those who believe that charter
making has something Sinaitic about
it, will consider heretical in the extreme
For instance, he is not greatly in favor
OF boards. He thinks the "variou'
departments should be mainly single
headed" The reasons for this prefer
ence are not difficult to discover.
board is the best continuance yet set VI
for the evasion of responsibility. A
board is in sense an abstraction
which can stand great deal of publ,
racket. The individuals in It who ar,
the real authors Of whatever mis-
chief is going on, rarely come out il
clear outline. 1t is different, however
when an individual is at the head Of
department. Public censure will reacl
him directly. The odium of a boarC
may be shaken off in the course O
time. But the record Of the individual
will always stare him in the face.
is for this reason as much as any othe
that boards OF works throughout th
country have such an evil reputation
"Never trucr words were spoken,
will be the comment of people in thi
Kingdom who have witnessed tn
administrative bungling and the pol
tical scheming done here under screel
of the several "boards" tackled on t
the Hawaiian system of government
None Of that kind Of wheel within
wheel, it is to be presumed, would b
tolerable to the citizens OF Honolul
in a system of civic government.
DERATTC IING rrIIn NJ rrDN